A nurse is reinforcing discharge education to a client who has hypokalemia. Which of the following suggestions should be included in the teaching plan?
Report new-onset muscle weakness
Increase consumption of apples and broccoli
Avoid salt substitutes
Report falls, due to high risk of osteoporosis
The Correct Answer is A
A. Report new-onset muscle weakness: Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, cramps, and fatigue, which are important symptoms that need to be monitored. Reporting these symptoms promptly is crucial because severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening complications, such as respiratory failure or cardiac arrhythmias.
B. Increase consumption of apples and broccoli: While fruits and vegetables like apples and broccoli are healthy, they are not particularly high in potassium. The client should be encouraged to consume potassium-rich foods such as bananas, oranges, potatoes, and spinach to help correct hypokalemia.
C. Avoid salt substitutes: Some salt substitutes contain potassium chloride, which can actually help increase potassium levels. However, this option might be recommended in certain conditions where potassium levels need to be carefully controlled, such as in renal failure, not in hypokalemia management.
D. Report falls, due to high risk of osteoporosis: Hypokalemia does not directly increase the risk of osteoporosis. Falls may occur due to muscle weakness, but this is not specifically related to osteoporosis. Therefore, reporting falls is not the primary concern in hypokalemia.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Bradypnea, or abnormally slow breathing, is not typically associated with hypoxia. Hypoxia usually triggers an increase in respiratory rate (tachypnea) as the body attempts to take in more oxygen to meet its needs.
B. Cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, is a key sign of hypoxia. It occurs when there is insufficient oxygen in the blood, leading to a darker color of deoxygenated hemoglobin. Cyanosis is most commonly observed in the lips, fingertips, and toes.
C. Pallor, or paleness of the skin, can occur in various conditions but is not specific to hypoxia. It is more commonly associated with anemia or shock rather than low oxygen levels in the blood.
D. Bradycardia, or a slower-than-normal heart rate, is not typically a manifestation of hypoxia. Instead, hypoxia often causes tachycardia as the body attempts to increase oxygen delivery to tissues by pumping blood more quickly.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Respiratory alkalosis: This condition is characterized by a high pH and low PaCO2. In this case, the pH is low and PaCO2 is high, indicating that respiratory alkalosis is not present.
B. Metabolic acidosis: Metabolic acidosis is indicated by a low pH and a low bicarbonate level. Here, the pH is low but the bicarbonate level is normal, so metabolic acidosis is not the primary diagnosis.
C. Metabolic alkalosis: This condition involves a high pH and elevated bicarbonate. The pH in this case is low, so metabolic alkalosis is not present.
D. Respiratory acidosis: Respiratory acidosis is indicated by a low pH and high PaCO2. The client's pH is 7.22 (acidic) and PaCO2 is 68 mm Hg (elevated), which is consistent with respiratory acidosis. The bicarbonate level is normal, indicating that there is no significant metabolic compensation yet.
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